Aerial bucket



March 5, 1929. w. R. COLEMAN AERIAL BUCKET 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 25 1925 WITNESSES INVENTOR flfillzkmzfi'. C alerrazlz.

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AERIAL BUCKET Filed Feb. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Shefl 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY W. R. COLEMAN March 5, 1929.

AERIAL BUCKET 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 25, 1925 Fig. 6

Arroe/vgr //V/ /V70A William 12.00leman 6) Mai'ch 5, 1929. w, COLEMAN 1,704,556

AERIAL BUCKET Filed Feb. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v.0 (a G g) Q I o Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITE masts WILLIAM R. COLEMAN, F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

AERIAL BUCKET.

Application filed February 25, 1925. Serial No. 11,622.

This invention relates to improvements in aerial buckets, and more particularly to buckets of this character designed for use in connection with loading or unloading stacking or filling apparatus of any character, an object of the invention being to provide improved mechanism whereby the drop bottom of the bucket will automatically open by some condition of the support of the bucket and its contents, as when the bucket reaches a pre-determined position, or when suspended from a carriage travelling on a cable, the bottom will open by position of the parts due to the catenary of the supporting cable.

A further object is to provide an aerial bucket having its drop bottom controlling latch so connected to the carriage of the bucket, when the latter is suspended from the carriage, that said latch will be operated by the angular disposition of the bucket to the carriage to control the dumping of the contents of the bucket.

It is a special object of my invention that the contents of the bucket will tend to open the swinging bottom thereof and that the weight of the bucket itself tends to close the bottom.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view mainly in elevation, but partly broken away and in section illustrating my improved serial bucket;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the bucket;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the carriage partly in section.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation illustrating the bucket and its supporting and controlling means;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the opposite arrangement of that in Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a view mainly in elevation of another form of bucket and trip mechanism;

Figures 7 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 6, Fig. 9 showing the bucket open;

Figures 10 and 11 show side elevations of the bucket and attached parts, the two views showing the bucket in its open and closed positions Figure 12 1s a front elevation of the bucket;

Figures 13, 14: and 15 are detailed views of the carriage together with a guard device,

Fig. 13 being a side elevation, Fig. 14 a' bottom plan and Fig. 15 a cross-section of the carriage and its support, this mechanism beingadaptable to the mechanism shown in o the first twelve views; and

Figure 16 is a cross-section of another form of a bucket having its drop bottom supported in much the same manner as that shown in Figs. 6 to 12.

Figs. 1 to 5 show the first form of the mechanism in which the numeral 1 designates a carriage which is shown with two pairs of pulleys 2 adapted to run on cables 3. While I have illustrated two pairs of pulleys, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the number of supporting pulleys or supporting cables, as I may use riage and bucket have a pivotal connection to permit varying angular dispositions of the same relative'to each other.

8 represents the drop bottom of the bucket which is hingedly connected to the bucket as shown at 9, andprovided with angle bars 10 which extend beyond the hinged connection of the bucket and provides stops limiting the opening movement of the bucket. or book 12 on the bottom 8 with a hook 13 at the upper portion of the bucket and normally holds the bottom in closed posi tion and returns the same to such position when permitted.

A catch 14 is pivotally connected to a bracket 15 at one side of the bucket and supports a collar 17 at its free end adapted to be positioned under a tongue 18 on bottom 8 to lock the bottom in closed position.

A coiled spring 11 connects an eye This catch 14 has an arm 19 thereon which is connected by a chain or other flexible connecting device 20 with an arm 21 on one end of the carriage 1. The other end of the carriage 1 is connected to an operatingcable 22 which is controlled by means of a drum 23 or other suitable controlling means located at any desired point.

The supporting cables 3 are mounted on masts or uprights 24 and 25, the latter suitably braced by stay-wires 26 and one of these masts 25 has its upper end in an appreciably higher plane than the other mast 24 so that the supporting cables have a distinct incline or sag, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and it is thru the medium of this curve or catenary of the cable that the bucket is caused to dump. Of course, it is clear that said catenary exists and will be adequate for the purpose named though the upper end of the masts'may be in the same horizontal plane.

A loading station is shown adjacent the mast 25 Where it will be noted that'there is an appreciable incline to the supporting cables 3, so that thecarriage 1 and bucket 4 meat an acute angle to each other, lVhile in this position there is a veryappreciable sag'in the chain 20' so that thecatch 14 is permitted to hold thebottom 8 in closed position.

After the bucket is filled, the drum 23 is operated to. permit the'cable 22 to unwind therefrom and allow the carriage 1 to move downwardly along the supportingcables 3 until said carriage 1 assumes a different angular position to that from its loading 'osition, said'difference in angular position eingsuflicient to exert a pull on the chain 20, causing the latch 14 to be released from the bucket 4, so that the weight of the load in the bucket will cause the drop bottom 8 to open and allow the contents of the bucket to esca e, when said bottom will be automatically closed by its spring 11.

It is obvious that the length of the chain 20 can be so regulated as to permit the operation of the catch'at any desired position along. the length ofthe supporting cables and without departing from the invention the bucket may be caused to move upwardly or forwardly into dumping or releasing position as will bereadily understood;

As; shown in Fig. 5, the parts operate in the reversed direction to that-shown in Fig.

' 4', thegreater incline of the carriage, in Fig.

5, causing the'dumping of the contents of thebucket, while in Fig. 4, the position of thecarriage more nearly horizontal will cause the dumping, and hence, the invention is notclimited to the direction of movement, of the bucket, nor to the particular operating.means, but is broadly directed to the idea of a bucket which is caused to open bythe contents thereof, and in this first form, by reason of the angular disposition of the carriage relative to the bucket due to the catenary of the cable.

In Figs. 6 to 12, inclusive, of the drawings, a form of the mechanism is shown that includes a modified construction of the supporting means for the bucket, which in this form is a suspension means like that in the first form, as well as. a different manner of tripping the bottom latch to empty the bucket, though in this form, as in the first, the different position of the carriage relative to the bucket due to the catenary of the cable serves to control the operation of the latch. I

In the latter form and operation of the device, the spring ll used in the first-described form, is not used, the bail 5 of the bucket 4 being supplanted by a bail 43 which is guided thru the eyes 32 on the sides of the bucket and extending down and.

ultimately pivoted to the swinging bot,

template 41 which is hinged at 42 to the bucket, a block 50 being secured to the bail just above the eyes 32 to limit the movement of the bail members thru the eye and thu prevent extreme opening of the bottom 41. Bythis arrangement it will be evident that the weight of the bucket normally closes the bottom plate, and that the contents of the filled bucket tends to open the plate when the pivot point 44 is nearer the hinge 42 than is the centre of the plate 41, but the plate is held closedin this form by the trip latch 48 whose hook end 51 engages the end of the plate until the latch is forcibly swung on its pivot 52 by a pull on the chain or rope 31 due to the angular position of the carriage 36.

In this modified form, the rope 31 is not connected directly to the latch 48, but a bell crank 53 is pivoted at its vertex to the end of one of the arms of 48, there being a pair of lugs 56 adjacent such end to prevent swinging of the bell crank 53 beyond an es tablished limit in either direction. On one arm of this part 53 is secured a weight 54, while on the other arm is provided a fixed nut 55 thru which an adjustment bolt 27 is threaded, the latter having at its uppermost end athreaded eye 29 for receiving and attaching the end of the rope 31 thereto, thelower end of the bolt 27 having a hand wheel 28 thereon for actuating. The other end of the rope is connectedtothe arm 30 of the carriage.

The pivot 52 is mounted on the lugs 47 attached. to the front wall of the. bucket. Suitablefastening means 34 may be used. The bucket designated in this form by 35 bears'its weight mainly upon the swinging plate 41 which in turn is supported by the bail members 43 at. 44. An upward pull on the rope 31, as shown in Fig. 10, will evidently cause a mere idle play of the part 53 on its pivot until one of its arms strikes a lug 56. When, however, the lower arm of 53 once swings underneath the upper arm of 48, as shown in Figs. 7 8, 9 and 11, then an upward pull on the member 31 will positively rock the latch 48 and positively withdraw the latch tongue 51 from the plate 41 to permit it to fall and open the bucket.

This manner of operation will be referred to in a subsequent paragraph.

The bail members 43 are pivoted to the plate 41 by eyes engaging a pin or bolt 44 which is secured to lugs 45 on the bottom of the plate. The upper point of the bail has an eye 16 for engaging a link element 49 on the carriage. It is an advantage of my invention that it is operative not only upon cable supports on towers of different height, but also on towers whose summits have the same elevation. The result of a catenary in the cables suspended from these towers will serve the same, purpose in either caseto control the dumping of the bucket by the relative angular positions of the carriage and bucket. In the latter form I have shown towers 38 and 39 of about the same ieight, while in Figs. 1 to 5, one of the towers is higher than the other.

Operation: In the form of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 to 12, it is assumed that the carriage is loaded to the left of tower 38, perhaps in the vicinity of another tower farther to the left. In any case, let it be desired to unload the bucket either before tower 38 is reached, or between towers 38 and 39. If the first result is desired, the screw 27 will be set to adjust the trip rope to a length that will hold the weight 54 in the position shown in Fig. 6. As so adjusted, when the carriage approaches the tower 38, and before riding over it, the catenary of the cables will cause so great inclination of the carriage that the rope 31 will'lift the upper arm of the latch 48 and withdraw the tongue 51 and trip the latch before the tower 38 is reached. If, however, it be desired that the carriage cross the tower 38 and trip the latch before reaching 39, the screw 27 will be adjusted until the weight is raised to the position shown in Fig. 10. Now, when the bucket reaches 38, the rope 31 will only swing the arms 53 idly on their pivot.

' After passing tower 38, the downward inclination of the carriage will position the point 55 beneath the pivot of the arms 53, so that as the carriage approaches tower 39, a taut condition of 31 will lift 48 and unlatch plate 41. Thus such adjustment may be made by the wheel 28 as will determine just where the bucket will be dumped. It is to be noticed that Fig. 7 shows the carriage and bucket after having passed the first tower, Fig. 8 shows the same as they are approaching the second tower, and Figs. 9 and toward the tower 39, where the latch 51 is withdrawn emptying the bucket. Fig. 10 shows the parts adjusted to permit the bucket to pass tower 38, but dump the same be fore reaching tower 39 because of the conditions illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show means for preventing the carriage from jumping from the supporting cables, either by vibration of the latter or any unusual addition to or release of load from the bucket or carriage, or any other cause tending to result in a jolt of the latter. This is apt to happen when passing the tower, when conditions are as shown in Figs. 6 to 12. Insuoh case, I have provided and illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 a swinging guard element 58 pivoted to the carriage by means of a loop or eye 59 swinging on a staple or other means 60 which latter is secured to the opposite side of the carriage from that on which the toe hangs by gravity underneath the cable 37. The toe is fashioned in a V-form 57 so that as the carriage reaches a tower the guard will by contact swing outward as shown in Fig. 15. Gravity will return the guard to engaging position under the cable after the carriage passes the tower. Such guard is desirable in any of the forms of buckets shown in Figs. 1 to 12 whether the outward swinging provision of its structure is needed or not.

In Fig. 16 I have shown a form of bucket or receptacle with drop bottom, the latter 41 being hinged to the bucket at 42 and the bucket and bottom being mainly supported on the hinged bottom 41 at 44 which is nearer the hinge than the center of the bottom, the contents of the receptacle, as in Figs. 6 to 12, tending to open the bucket. To prevent undue tipping of the receptacle, the side of the latter opposite the hinge is pivoted at 61 by a link 62 to the frame 63 of a truck or other vehicle 64 traveling on rails 66. As the bottom 41 opens, the bucket tips slightly toward the link, and the weight of the bucket tends toolose the same, as in the form shown in Figs. 6 to 12. The bucket in this form is supported on a carriage on wheels and the bottom may be locked in closed position by a latch 67 as usual.

Applicant has added in this application the forms of receptacles shown in Figs. 6 to 16 to the form shown and claimed in his former application No. 472,439 filed May 25, 1921, allowed, forfeited and now abandoned in favor of this application disclosing and claiming the same invention with certain additions as explained. It is therefore my purpose to not abandon my invention but to claim it in this application which will be a continuation of said former application as to all matter common to the two cases.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of the 11 show them after further advancement parts described without departing from the invention, and hence I do not-limit myself to the precisedetails set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterationsas fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a carriage, of a bucket suspended from the carriage, and means operated by the angular disposition of the carriage relative to the bucket for controlling the emptying of'th'e bucket.

2. The combination with a carriage, of a bucket suspended from and pivotally connected to the carriage, a drop bottom on the bucket, and means controlled. by the angular disposition of the carriage relative to the bucket for automatically causing the bottom to open. 7

3. The combination with a carriage, of a bucket suspended from and pivotally connected to the carriage, a drop bottom on the bucket, a catch normally holding the bottom in closed position, and a flexible device connecting the carriage'and the catch whereby when the angular disposition of the carriage relative to'the bucket reaches a predetermined position, a pull will be had on said flexible device to cause the catch to release the bottom of the bucket.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a bucket, a carriage supporting and pivotally connected to the bucket, a cable having a catenary curve therein supporting the carriage, and means controlled by the catenary of said cable, for causing the bucket to dump at a predetermined point.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a bucket, support means for said bucket and having a catenary curve therein, and acarriage upon said support means controlled by the catenary of said means for dumping the bucket.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a bucket, a hinged bottom for said bucket, support means for said bucket and having a catenary curve therein, and a carriage travelling upon said support means controlled by the catenary of said means for controlling the movement of the said bottom.

' -7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a bucket, a hinged bottom for said bucket, a supporting. cable suspended from spaced supports, a carriage mounted to travel on said cable, means pivoted to said bottom and to said carriage for supporting said bucket, and means for releasing the said bottom and controlled by the catenary of said cable.

8. The combination with a carriage and supporting means therefor, of a bucket pivotally supported on said carriage, and means having pivotal connection with said carriage operated by the bucket tending to close the bucket and actuated by the contents of the bucket tending to open the being controlled by the relative inclination of the carriage to the bucket.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle, hinged bottom for said receptacle, a supporting rail, a carriage mounted to travel on said rail, means pivoted to said bottom and to said carriage for-suplatter, said means porting said receptacle, the contents of the receptacle tending to open said bottom, and means connecting said bottom and the carriage, whereby the inclination of the carriage will control the pivotal swinging of the bottom of the receptacle.

10. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle, a hinged bottom for said receptacle, a supporting cable, a carriage mounted to travel on said cable, means pivoted to said bottom between the hinge of the bottom and the center of the latter for supporting the said receptacle, and means operated by the carriage for releasing the said bottom.

11. An apparatus of the character described comprising a bucket, a hinged bottom for said bucket, a track element upon which a carriage may move, a carriage mounted upon said element, means pivoted to said bottom and to said carriage for sup porting said bucket, and means for releasing the said bottom and controlled by the relative angular position of the bucket and track element.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM R. COLEMAN. 

